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IFEU Heidelberg

8 Light-weighting potential of transport subsystems

In the preceding sections, specific energy savings, life-time performances and resulting life-time energy savings for different, individual vehicle types were derived. In 8.1 we will summarise these findings. In section 8.2 we will then calculate achievable reductions for the all new registrations of Germany for exemplification. The absolute mass and number of vehicles will now be taken into account.

8.1 Life time energy and CO2 savings for selected vehicles

The life-time energy savings are the result of the product of specific energy savings and the life-time performance. They are generally higher for rail vehicles compared to road vehicles, mainly due to the significantly higher life-time performance. Regional trains have about six times higher life-time primary energy savings because they have high specific energy savings in addition to a high life-time performance. Only city buses have outstandingly high energy savings among the road vehicles. This is also due to the combination of high specific energy savings in addition to a high life-time performance.